Heeeeer's Wendy..............

Gidday, I am new to the site so thought I would introduce myself specifically in the Bipolar Group.

I am an Australian woman with Bipolar II, panic and anxiety disorders and I am also an 11 years sober alcoholic in AA. I post on other mental health sites, but have been looking for a new one - this site looks great.

Some dodgy genes and an horrific childhood left me with these illnesses. I pulled out all stops to get a life for myself, did three tertiary qualifications and had a wonderful career in PR and Communications, which of course was made much more difficult due to addiction and mental illness. I had begun blackout drinking at 14 and drank to 32 when I started in AA. I was undiagnosed with mental illness until I was 35 and I now know I had Early Onset Mental illness.

Unfortunatley once I started with psychiatrists at 35, I was to commence a period of horror, loss and devastation as a result of being mis-medicated with SSRI's for 6/7 years (I know that many Bipolars NEED those meds, but they are contraindicated for me). This period and it follow-up was so much worse than the worst of my drinking - and I had been a blackout drinker for 18 years, with all that goes with it. I lost my career, my house, my friends and family (who aren't prepared to learn about Bipolar - they just want to judge).

I moved from the city to a town in mid 2008, three months after I nearly lost my life and a psychiatrist here soon established that I should NEVER have been on SSRI's. I am still living with the consequences, but the slow, one step froward two steps back path to recovery has moved forward ever so slowly, but I am still fighting the good fight.

I would LOVE to chat.

Wendy

Welcome. Thanks for your intro. You'll find a lot of support here.

Hey there Wendy.
Glad you found us and welcome to the board. Thank you for sharing. There are plenty of chat rooms. Enjoy!

Glad to meet you. Like they've said, you really will find a lot of wonderful support here.

Hi Wendy,
Keep fighting the good fight. You'll find the people on this site to be very supportive. Welcome to PC!

Wow! It sounds like you've had a really rough time. I hope you can get on track now. I was also on SSRI's at first and they just pushed me into the more manic side. I don't take them anymore. Lamictal has been great, but I do have to avoid alcohol. If I'm hypomanic/manic it REALLY comes out when I drink.

This place is great. Everyone LISTENS to what you have to say. There are no judges here. Best wishes!

I just want to say "AWESOME!" to your 11 years sober!! Way to go!! I am glad you are now on the right track with your meds too. And welcome!! We are good at listening. : )